Specification points
Edexcel GCSE Biology 1BI0
174 points in 9 topics, with Edexcel's codes and titles.
Grade boundaries·Edexcel command words
Codes and titles are read by a script from Edexcel's published specification and have not been checked by a person. What each point covers is in the specification itself: Edexcel’s specification.
1 Key concepts in biology
- 1.1 Sub-cellular structures and their functions
- 1.2 Specialised cells and their adaptations
- 1.3 Developments in microscope technology
- 1.4 Number, size, scale and estimation
- 1.5 Units for cell measurements
- 1.6 Core practical: using microscopes
- 1.7 Enzyme action, active site and specificity
- 1.8 Denaturation of enzymes
- 1.9 Temperature, substrate concentration and pH on enzymes
- 1.10 Core practical: pH and enzyme activity
- 1.11 Rate calculations for enzyme activity
- 1.12 Enzymes in synthesis and breakdown of molecules
- 1.13B Core practical: food tests
- 1.14B Calorimetry and energy in food
- 1.15 Diffusion, osmosis and active transport
- 1.16 Core practical: osmosis in potatoes
- 1.17 Percentage change in mass in osmosis
2 Cells and control
- 2.1 Mitosis and the cell cycle
- 2.2 Importance of mitosis
- 2.3 Mitosis producing genetically identical cells
- 2.4 Cancer and uncontrolled cell division
- 2.5 Growth in animals and plants
- 2.6 Cell differentiation
- 2.7 Percentile growth charts
- 2.8 Stem cells and meristems
- 2.9 Benefits and risks of stem cells in medicine
- 2.10B Structure and function of the brain
- 2.11B CT and PET scanning of the brain
- 2.12B Limits of treating nervous system damage
- 2.13 Neurones, receptors and synapses
- 2.14 The reflex arc
- 2.15B Structure and function of the eye
- 2.16B Defects of the eye
- 2.17B Correcting eye defects
3 Genetics
- 3.1B Asexual reproduction: advantages and disadvantages
- 3.2B Sexual reproduction: advantages and disadvantages
- 3.3 Meiosis and gametes
- 3.4 Structure of DNA
- 3.5 Genome and genes
- 3.6 Extracting DNA from fruit
- 3.7B Base sequence and protein structure
- 3.8B Stages of protein synthesis
- 3.9B Variants in non-coding DNA
- 3.10B Variants in coding DNA
- 3.11B Mendel's work on inheritance
- 3.12 Alleles and inherited differences
- 3.13 Genetic terms
- 3.14 Monohybrid inheritance
- 3.15 Sex determination
- 3.16 Outcomes of monohybrid crosses
- 3.17B ABO blood groups: codominance and multiple alleles
- 3.18B Sex-linked genetic disorders
- 3.19 Features controlled by multiple genes
- 3.20 Genetic and environmental variation
- 3.21 The Human Genome Project
- 3.22 Genetic variation from mutations
- 3.23 Effects of mutations on phenotype
4 Natural selection and genetic modification
- 4.1B Darwin and Wallace
- 4.2 Evolution by natural selection
- 4.3 Resistant organisms as evidence for evolution
- 4.4 Fossil evidence for human evolution
- 4.5 Stone tools as evidence for human evolution
- 4.6B The pentadactyl limb as evidence for evolution
- 4.7 Three domains of classification
- 4.8 Selective breeding
- 4.9B Tissue culture
- 4.10 Genetic engineering
- 4.11 Stages of genetic engineering
- 4.12B GM organisms: advantages and disadvantages
- 4.13B Agricultural solutions to feeding a growing population
- 4.14 Benefits and risks of genetic engineering and selective breeding
5 Health, disease and the development of medicines
- 5.1 Definition of health
- 5.2 Communicable and non-communicable diseases
- 5.3 One disease increasing susceptibility to others
- 5.4 Types of pathogen
- 5.5 Common infections
- 5.6 Spread and prevention of pathogens
- 5.7B Lysogenic and lytic virus lifecycles
- 5.8 Sexually transmitted infections
- 5.9B Physical plant defences
- 5.10B Chemical plant defences
- 5.11B Detecting and identifying plant diseases
- 5.12 Physical and chemical defences of the human body
- 5.13 The specific immune system
- 5.14 Immunisation
- 5.15B Immunisation and herd immunity
- 5.16 Antibiotics treat only bacterial infections
- 5.17B Aseptic techniques in culturing microorganisms
- 5.18B Core practical: antiseptics and antibiotics on microbial cultures
- 5.19B Calculating areas of bacterial cultures and clear zones
- 5.20 Stages of developing new medicines
- 5.21B Producing monoclonal antibodies
- 5.22B Uses of monoclonal antibodies
- 5.23 Multiple causes of non-communicable diseases
- 5.24 Lifestyle factors and non-communicable diseases
- 5.25 Treatments for cardiovascular disease
6 Plant structures and their functions
- 6.1 Photosynthetic organisms as producers
- 6.2 Photosynthesis as an endothermic reaction
- 6.3 Limiting factors of photosynthesis
- 6.4 Interaction of limiting factors
- 6.5 Core practical: light intensity and photosynthesis
- 6.6 Light intensity and the inverse square law
- 6.7 Root hair cells
- 6.8 Structure of xylem and phloem
- 6.9 Transpiration and stomata
- 6.10 Translocation of sucrose
- 6.11B Leaf adaptations for photosynthesis and gas exchange
- 6.12 Environmental factors and water uptake
- 6.13 Rate calculations for transpiration
- 6.14B Plant adaptations to extreme environments
- 6.15B Plant hormones, phototropism and gravitropism
- 6.16B Commercial uses of plant hormones
7 Animal coordination, control and homeostasis
- 7.1 Endocrine glands and hormone transport
- 7.2 Adrenalin and fight or flight
- 7.3 Thyroxine and negative feedback
- 7.4 Stages of the menstrual cycle
- 7.5 Hormone interactions in the menstrual cycle
- 7.6 Hormonal contraception
- 7.7 Hormonal and barrier contraception compared
- 7.8 Hormones in assisted reproductive technology
- 7.9 Maintaining a constant internal environment
- 7.10B Importance of thermoregulation and osmoregulation
- 7.11B Thermoregulation and the skin
- 7.12B Shivering, vasoconstriction and vasodilation
- 7.13 Insulin and blood glucose
- 7.14 Glucagon and blood glucose
- 7.15 Type 1 diabetes
- 7.16 Type 2 diabetes
- 7.17 Body mass and type 2 diabetes
- 7.18B Structure of the urinary system
- 7.19B The nephron and urine formation
- 7.20B ADH and the collecting duct
- 7.21B Treatments for kidney failure
- 7.22B Urea production in the liver
8 Exchange and transport in animals
- 8.1 Substances transported into and out of organisms
- 8.2 Exchange surfaces and surface area to volume ratio
- 8.3 Alveoli and gas exchange
- 8.4B Factors affecting rate of diffusion
- 8.5B Fick's law
- 8.6 Structure and function of blood components
- 8.7 Structure and function of blood vessels
- 8.8 Structure and function of the heart and circulation
- 8.9 Cellular respiration
- 8.10 Aerobic and anaerobic respiration compared
- 8.11 Core practical: rate of respiration
- 8.12 Heart rate, stroke volume and cardiac output
9 Ecosystems and material cycles
- 9.1 Levels of organisation in ecosystems
- 9.2 Abiotic and biotic factors affecting communities
- 9.3 Interdependence in a community
- 9.4 Parasitism and mutualism
- 9.5 Core practical: fieldwork with quadrats and transects
- 9.6 Estimating population size from fieldwork data
- 9.7B Energy transfer between trophic levels
- 9.8B Efficiency of energy and biomass transfers
- 9.9 Human interactions with ecosystems and biodiversity
- 9.10 Benefits of maintaining biodiversity
- 9.11B Biological factors affecting food security
- 9.12 Cycling of materials in ecosystems
- 9.13 The carbon cycle
- 9.14 The water cycle and potable water
- 9.15 The nitrogen cycle and nitrates for plants
- 9.16B Indicator species and pollution
- 9.17B Decomposition and food preservation
- 9.18B Decomposition and composting
- 9.19B Rates of decay of biological material